Spring Newsletter
Petit Jean State Park is Getting Back to Nature
By Steven Dunlap, Park Interpreter

With the temperatures warming up the woods and forests, and cool showers which feed the early wildflowers, one begins to look forward to the traditional heralds of spring. Where else can one enjoy the wood's waking from a long winter nap than on Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas's most beloved state park? Many opportunities exist to plan a short or long visit and get back to nature this spring season.

When are the Park Facilities Open???
Mather Lodge is open 24 hours a day. Reservations to stay in a rustic cabin or lodge room can be made by calling our toll free number, 1-800-264-2462. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance. The full service restaurant at Mather Lodge is now open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and can set up group meals or cater to any of the parks many facilities.

The Visitor Information Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. It will stay open till 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday to help those needing camp sites later in the evening. Shop at our improved gift shop and find that special souvenir, or load up on marshmallows for a late evening roast over a campfire.

Camping is available year round. There are 126 class A campsites that include water / electric hookups, picnic table, fire ring, and each of the four areas has a bathhouse with heated water. Campers must register at the Visitor Center before occupying a campsite. If you arrive after the Visitor Center is closed, simply occupy a vacant campsite and register at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. Most of our campsites are first come first serve, however we do have a reservation area for those busy weekends, holidays, or special events. Camping reservations can be made a year in advance by calling 501-727-5441.

Special Spring Events???
There are several special events taking place during these Spring Months. These events host many free interpretive programs, which will help you, see areas of the park you may have never been exposed to. These programs will certain help you learn much more about Petit Jean State Park, and hopefully will help you gain a special appreciation for it. Click on 'Things To Do' on our website, and then 'click here' under the programs heading for a complete list of all scheduled activities for this spring.

The Wildflower Weekend is April 5th and 6th. All programming will be geared toward the appreciation and identification of spring wildflowers. Many hikes, tours, and demonstrations on wildflowers can be enjoyed that weekend.

The Great Escape & Easter Weekend is April 18th, 19th, and 20th. Programming for this weekend will help you get back to nature. Spending recreational time in the out of doors is one of the biggest reasons why we have state parks, because we understand the immense value behind it. Whether it be learning about the history of the Arkansas River, enjoying ghost stories by campfire, or playing Frisbee golf with your family, any time spent in nature is quality time.

The Easter Egg hunt will be Sunday April 20th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone meet by the public swimming pool so we can divide up our young and eager egg seekers into their age groups. We will have 2000 candy filled eggs along with a few prize eggs scattered through the old grounds of the C.C.C. camp, currently known as the ball field. Be sure to bring a basket or sack to carry your haul.

May is always excellent weather for enjoying the great outdoors. Park Interpreters will provide weekend programming all during the month of May. May is also Arkansas Heritage Month, with an emphasis on the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase. For special programming during this bicentennial or to learn more about the statewide opportunities visit Arkansas's official Louisiana Purchase website at www.lapurchase.org

Attention Teachers! Petit Jean State Park has proven to be an excellent choice to bring your class on an education and fun field trip. Contact Steven Dunlap at 501-727-6510 or Lori Anderson at 501-727-6512 to schedule your field trip for your class. We accept all age groups and class sizes. We can provide programs and activities that correlate with your curriculum that meet state standards. Best of all the tours, nature hikes, and educational programs are free.

Here is What's New at Petit Jean State Park . . .
Rock House Cave and Trail are undergoing a major renovation. In an effort to preserve the delicate cave floor which in the past was subject to major erosion and airborne dust, and new floor is now in place. Jim Langford, Arkansas State Park's Trail Supervisor, has installed new rock steps inside the cave with a ground stabilizing material. Jim and his crew have hauled over 120 yards of new floor material inside the cave, giving it whole new look. This look will not only allow our park visitors better access to the cave, but also a nicer and neater cave to visit. This new floor will do its part of protecting the ancient pictographs that still remain on a few of the walls by keeping the dust to a low minimum. Please do your part to protect this outstanding historic and geologic feature by not defacing the cave walls, and reporting improper activities.

Petit Jean is building a Group Camp Facility. Our old group camp area next to Lake Roosevelt is being updated with a whole new bathhouse and campgrounds. This will be highly prized by groups wanting to camp together next to the scenic lake. This isolated camping area is perfect for Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, Church Groups, and Family Camping Weekends. Reservations to stay in the new Group Camp can be made by calling 501-727 5441.

For those who really enjoy hiking the Bear Cave Trail, but do not enjoy trying to park there, you should be surprised by what you find this spring. Over the winter the Bear Cave Trail Parking lot has been expanded, and a new rock retaining wall installed. Gravel will provide a new parking surface soon after the existing material settles. We understand how difficult and congested that parking area was, and hopefully our hikers will approve the new look. Park Employees already enjoy not having to park and walk through the mud and standing water!

Many new and exciting changes took place at Mather Lodge during the winter as well. The restaurant now has a new coat of paint and new carpet is expected to be installed shortly. In addition the front of the historic lodge has been landscaped with flowering bushes and trees. The barren dirt and eroded runoff has now been rehabilitated to a mulched landscape. The vegetative barrier between the lodge and the parking lot has also been mulched and landscaped. Visitors getting their pictures made in front of this beautiful log and stone lodge should enjoy the results.

Finally, the Rent-A-Tipi and Rent-A-Camps have been erected and are ready for your visit. Remember to call ahead to make reservations to stay in these unique accommodations as soon as possible. Every kid should have a least one sleep over in a Tipi.

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
1-800-NATURAL
www.arkansas.com
www.arkansasstateparks.com
www.arkansaskids.com